Multiple clip deployment magazine

Abstract

An apparatus for deployment of multiple hemostatic clips, comprises a shaft connected to a handle and a control linkage operatively connected to the handle in combination with a magazine disposed at a distal end of the shaft, the magazine containing a plurality of clips arranged in a chain rotatable within the magazine, wherein a proximal-most one of the clips is coupled to the control linkage, a distal portion of the magazine being contoured to permit opening of a distal-most one of the clips during a distal stroke of the control linkage, and to assist closing and locking of the distal-most clip during a proximal stroke of the control linkage, the magazine including an expanded chamber sized to allow opening in any rotational orientation of a next clip located immediately proximal to the distal-most clip to a degree sufficient to disengage the distal-most clip. A method for deploying multiple hemostatic clips, comprises positioning a distal end of a magazine containing a clip chain over selected target tissue and actuating a control link of the magazine in a distal stroke to open and distally translate a distal-most clip of the clip chain in combination with orienting the open distal-most clip in a desired orientation to grasp the target tissue and actuating the control link in a proximal stroke to close and lock the distal-most clip over the target tissue. The control link is further actuated in the proximal stroke to move a next clip immediately proximal to the distal-most clip into an expanded portion of the magazine sized to allow the next clip to open to a degree sufficient to release the distal-most clip regardless of a circumferential orientation of the next clip.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.